The Promise Box (23 page)

“
Ja
, well, I’ve seen you and that pie.” She touched her fingertips to her lips and took
a step back. “And I have to warn you: don’t try to eat yourself full. Two kisses are
enough for tonight.”

A chuckle burst from his lips. “Oh, you don’t have to worry about that, Lydia. I have
a feeling I couldn’t get enough of you—I couldn’t ever git my fill.”

“
Ja
, well, before I get too caught up in all your fancy, romantic talk, I need to head
home and fix dinner for Dat.” She turned and moved in the direction of her house.
The emotions
between them were strong, and she thought of what Mem had told her more than once:
“
Many things have been opened by mistake, but none so frequently as the mouth
.”

If she stayed here, they’d just continue with their sweet talking…and that would lead
to even more kissing. It was wonderful,
ja
, and that was the problem. A prudent woman knew better than to indulge in a God-given
gift before it was time to open it.

She waved. “Tomorrow, then.”

“
Ja
, tomorrow. Hopefully I’ll see you after school.”

“Or you can stop by for lunch.”

He winked. “Are you suggesting a lunch date with the teacher?”

“
Ja
.” She smiled. “I’d like that. I’ll pack a lot, just in case someone’s a
wutz
. Maybe even a whole pie.”

Gideon chuckled, but instead of waving good-bye, he reached out and gently grasped
her arm. “I have a feeling when I’m with you Lydia—a feeling of fullness.”

“Like you’ve eaten too much pie?” She chuckled.

“Sort of, but it’s my heart that’s all filled up.” His gaze turned serious. “We’ve
been talking about all the holes—the pain—in our past, but the more I’m with you,
the more the present seeps in and fills up those spots, like a healing balm.”

“I like that, Gideon,” she said, thankful that God had used them to bring healing
to each other. Lydia thought of her birth mother, but then she pushed thoughts of
Grace out of her mind. Couldn’t she be content with what she had? With what God had
given her? “What a
gut
God to bring us on this healing path…together.”

T
he children had been so well behaved that Lydia decided to give them an extra five
minutes of morning recess. The sounds of their laughter filled the air, and she smiled
as she got out the modeling clay, eager to show them how to make imprints with leaves.

A minute before she was about to call the children in, the school door opened and
a young woman walked in. She was petite with brown hair and a soft smile. Instead
of a
kapp
, the woman wore a scarf over her head. Her clothes were plain but not Amish.

Lydia approached. “Hi, Marianna. Can I help you with something?”

“
Ja
, I came to talk to you about Ellie, my sister. I was visiting my parents last night
and Charlie mentioned to me that Ellie’s having a difficult time.”

“I suppose. I mean, I’m trying my best. I don’t know what I can do to help her.”

“I am sure you’re doing a
gut
job. Ellie was the youngest for many years until little Joy came along. I’m afraid
we’ve all been easier on her than we should.” Marianna glanced around. “But
if you’d like I can stay today—to help with her. My husband and I don’t have a
boppli
yet.” A smile filled Marianna’s face as she said the word ‘husband,’ as if that word
still brought her great joy. “Ellie will not act up with me here—at least I hope she
won’t.”

Lydia’s brow furrowed; she was unsure of what to think. “I would love to have you,
Marianna, but is it all right? I mean, I hate to say this, but I know they only allow
Amish teachers and…”

“Oh, I see what you’re saying. Because I’m not Amish you think the families won’t
want me here.” Marianna touched her scarf. “I should explain. I live in this community,
too, and these families are my friends. I don’t attend the Amish church, but I believe
much of the same. I’m married to an
Englisch
man, Ben.”

“And your family doesn’t shun you?” It was a question Lydia had wanted to ask.

Marianna crossed her arms. “If I was in Indiana, things would be different. For many
years my parents wanted me to stay Amish more than anything. Yet they respect Ben.
He has a great love for God. My dat hasn’t left his Amish heritage, but he agrees
a love for God is most important. I feel the same.”

Lydia enjoyed the gentle way Marianna spoke. It wasn’t false humility, but a gentle
peace that lit her face over knowing she’d done the right thing. Lydia hadn’t seen
such joy often, which seemed strange since she lived among a people who turned their
backs on the ways of the world to do exactly what they believe God required.

“But I understand if you don’t want me here, or if you need to ask.”

“No,” the word rushed from Lydia’s lips. She touched her
kapp
. What did Marianna think of her returning to the Amish?
Did Marianna believe you could love God with your whole heart within the Amish community
too? She hoped Marianna could see the hope in her eyes.

“I would love to have you here. Ellie’s a sweet girl. There has to be a problem with
the way I’m handling things because she doesn’t seem to have problems in other areas
at all. In fact,” Lydia hurriedly continued, “I’d like her to sing a small solo part
in the Thanksgiving production next month.”

Marianna cleared her throat. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Why not? She has such a sweet voice, and maybe if I can highlight her strengths—”

“
Ja
, but that would make her stand out. It would be prideful, don’t you think, for her
to be treated in a different and special way?” Marianna bit her lip. “Or at least
that’s what Mem would say. She wouldn’t allow it, so it shouldn’t even be brought
up.”

The peace that had been on Marianna’s face before folded into wrinkles on her forehead,
like ripples that circled out from a stone thrown into a still pond. A tendon tightened
in her neck. Even though Marianna wasn’t dressed Amish, perhaps she still struggled
with what to believe—what to accept and what to walk away from. Maybe it was easier
for Lydia to see since she’d walked away from it all for a time.

“I understand what you’re saying, Marianna. Do you think you could talk to your parents
about Ellie’s solo? I grew up just like you, and I understand how we don’t want to
do anything that would lead someone to be prideful. I do have a friend, Bonnie—my
boss, actually—who invited me to an
Englisch
church many times. I went three or four times, and once when I was there a woman
sang. Her voice was amazing. I remember staying fixed in my seat. The strange thing
is when I watched
I wasn’t thinking so much about the woman, but of God. I had a feeling in that moment
that God had made her as she was to point to how amazing He is. Do you find that strange?”

“Not at all.” Heat rose to Marianna’s cheeks, and she glanced to the side and then
back to Lydia again. “My husband—he is a musician. Just last year he was traveling
the country and performing concerts. He has some music CDs…” Marianna seemed to struggle
for words and the ripples in her forehead deepened into trenches. “And we’re both
praying about next steps. If Ben should do concerts or…”

“I know who he is, Marianna. Who isn’t familiar with Ben Stone?”

Marianna didn’t answer, but from the look in her eyes, Lydia saw that she still found
it hard to believe her husband was so popular in the outside world.

“I know that story,” Lydia continued. “I saw him on television. I watched the press
conference after he was arrested. And I read an article in
People
magazine that he fell in love with an Amish girl.”

Marianna gasped and covered her mouth with her hand.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know it bothers you.”

“It doesn’t bother me. I’m just always surprised to hear that people know.” Marianna
folded her hands, and brushed her thumbs over each other. “I jest wonder what people
think of me. I mean, I’m the reason he’s not doing concerts. I wonder too, if like
that woman singer you spoke of, Ben needs to be using his talents to glorify God.
It’s something that I struggle with every day.”

“God will give you the best answer, Marianna.” Lydia reached forward and grasped Marianna’s
hands. “You might have never thought that you’d leave the Amish. And the truth is
I never thought I’d return. But for some reason over the last
few weeks, I’ve realized that God doesn’t have one life path for all of us—even if
yer Amish. It would be too easy to find it and set off on it without Him. Instead
He has a unique path for each of us, and the only way we’ll find it is by seeking
Him, reading His word, and being open to His still, small voice.”

Marianna nodded, and Lydia could tell she was listening and trying to figure out what
that meant for herself, her husband.

Even after she said those words, Lydia knew it was something she needed to write down
later. Sometimes she discovered a truth and it took a while to sink in, but other
times she didn’t realize she’d already embraced a truth until she spoke the words
and felt the conviction radiate through her soul.

Lydia knew that for her, returning to the Amish was the right thing. Not because it
was the only path to God. Not because she would be damned to hell if she chose a different
way. But maybe because God knew she’d find Him better here than in the
Englisch
world.

“‘A dead fish can float downstream, but it takes a live one to swim upstream,’” she
found herself saying.

“Excuse me?”

“It’s a strange thought, I know, but even a dead fish can follow the easy way, the
comfortable and known path. But it seems when we leave what’s most comfortable to
us, that’s where we need God most. And when we need Him, and cry out to Him, then
He comes to us, and it’s in the coming there’s life.”

“You’re a wise woman, Lydia.”

“I don’t think so.” She chuckled. “But the words sound
gut
to me. Maybe they’re something God’s speaking to me too.”

Lydia squeezed Marianna’s hands. “I’m glad yer here. Thank you for coming in today
and offering to sit with Ellie.”

Marianna chuckled. “
Ja
, I offered, and I’m the one receiving your help.
Danki
.” She smiled. “I can tell we’re going to have a special friendship…if you don’t mind
having an
Englisch
woman as a friend, that is.”

“Mind? I don’t think I’d mind at all.” Lydia winked. “In fact, I have a feeling I
can teach you a thing or two about being
Englisch
.”

The school door slammed open. Little Julia raced in, her dark eyes wide.

“Miss Wyse, we have a problem,” Julia gasped, trying to catch her breath. “It’s Ellie.
She was there just a minute ago on the swing, but now she’s gone!”

E
llie’s gone?” Lydia tried to comprehend what Julia was saying. “Is she in the outhouse?
Or maybe playing hide and seek?”

Tears filled Julia’s eyes as her lower lip trembled. “
Ne
, Miss Wyse. We checked the outhouse and all the kids have been lookin’.”

Lydia and Marianna rushed outside. Lydia’s eyes made a quick scan of the playground.
“I should have been watching them. I’m usually out here.”

David ran up to his sister. “Last thing she said to anyone, Mari, is that she was
going to be first to get all her leaves for our collection.”

Marianna grasped Lydia’s arms, and they both looked down the dirt road to the rolling
hills in the distance. The hills filled with trees.

Lydia’s mind filled with thoughts of Gideon…and the danger of a child wandering off.
“Do you think she went out there, by herself?”

Dear Lord, please don’t let this happen again
.

Charlie ran up too. “I can run home and tell Dat and Mem.”

“No!” The word shot from Lydia’s mouth. “We can’t have any of the other children taking
off.”

Marianna’s face was gray. “Lydia—Miss Wyse is right. It’s not a
gut
idea.”

Lydia hurried into the schoolyard. “In fact, everyone, please get up on the porch.
Danki
. I need to make sure no one else is missing. We’ll send for help.”

David stepped forward, straightening his frame so he stood the same height as Lydia.
“I’m almost an adult. This is my last year of school. I can’t just sit here—”

“
Ne
, David,” Lydia interrupted, sending up another prayer for wisdom. “Marianna, can
you run to the store and—”

“My phone!” Marianna reached into the pocket of her dress. “I didn’t want this phone,
but Ben insisted…in case of an emergency.” Tears filled her eyes. “I’ll call Ben,
and I’ll call the store too. Ben and Annie can round up people to come help search.
I’ll have him tell my parents.”

“Yes, good idea.” Lydia placed a hand over her pounding heart. “And have him call
the Carash house. Have Ben tell Gideon to come. I need Gideon to come.”

Mrs. Sommer showed up first. She’d been at the store grocery shopping when Marianna
got ahold of Annie. Someone called the Log Works too—the small factory right behind
the store. Within ten minutes the schoolyard was filled with men and women trying
to figure out what had happened, but Lydia didn’t feel peace until she saw Gideon
running up the road. He entered the schoolyard, and she hurried to him, resisting
the urge to fall into his embrace.

“Are you okay, Lydia?” Gideon placed a hand on her
shoulder. “I was on my way here for our lunch date when I heard what happened.”

Lydia nodded. “Ellie is…gone. Someone called the sheriff. He is on his way. Mrs. Sommer
is here. Ben went to go get Mr. Sommer, Abe, who’s working on a house not far away.”
She covered her face with her hands. “This is all my fault. I was talking to Marianna.
I wasn’t paying attention.”

Gideon’s hands gripped her upper arms. “Listen, Lydia. She’s in God’s hands. He’s
watching over her, just like He was watching over me. You have to trust that.”

She nodded and lowered her hands, and then glanced around. “But a few guys from the
Log Works have already headed down the road. Anything could happen.”

Gideon’s jaw clenched. “It’s not. Do you hear? Nothing bad is going to happen today.”
He swallowed hard and looked past her to the children on the porch. “You need to remain
calm. Those kids are counting on you. They need your faith, Lydia. You need to be
strong for them.” He released his grasp on her arm.

Lydia nodded. She prepared to turn but then paused. She took his hand. “Are you going
out there—going to look for her?”

Gideon nodded. “
Ja
. You know I have to.”

Lydia swallowed hard. “Yes, I know. But be careful,
ja
?”

“Yes, Lydia. I’ll be careful.”

Lydia turned and hurried to the porch. Some of the children—the girls—were crying.
She forced a smile. “All these folks have come to help, but we have a big job to do
too.”

Josiah’s dark hair tumbled in the wind and his eyes grew wide. “What’s that?”

“We’re going to gather around inside and pray. Pray that Ellie is safe and that those
searching for her will be safe too.”

Inside, they sat in a circle, holding hands, with their heads bowed in silent prayer.
Lydia sat closest to the open window so she could see what was happening, so she could
know that something was being done.

A few sniffles here and there broke Lydia’s heart, but her attention was on the sounds
from outside.

“Everyone gather around!” It was Gideon’s voice. “It’s important that we search for
Ellie, but we need to be safe.”

“I’m not going to wait. That’s my niece out there.” Lydia recognized the voice of
Ike Sommer, Abe’s brother.

“I know, Ike. I know your fear. But we need to set perimeters. We need a system for
checking on each other.”

“I can’t just stand here,” another man said. Lydia lifted her head, noticing a dozen
bachelors standing there, Micah and Amos among them. They turned and stalked off.

“Stop!” Gideon called to them.

They didn’t listen, but continued with quickened steps.

“Stop!” Gideon called, his voice full of authority. “Because the worst thing you can
do is save Ellie but die yerself!”

The two bachelors stopped and turned. “It’s not going to happen,” Micah spouted. “Who
put you in charge anyway? Just because it’s yer girlfriend who let her be lost in
the first place.”

“Not only can it happen. It did.” Gideon strode over to them. “Twenty years ago. And
you know it.”

Amos scowled. “How do you know what happened twenty years ago?”

“I know because I was here. I was a little boy lost in these woods—and a man died
looking for me. I—” Gideon’s voice caught in his throat. “Can you guess how that makes
me feel?” Silence fell over the group.

Amos’s jaw dropped. “I had no idea.” He turned to Micah,
but Micah’s face showed no surprise. Instead it showed regret. Did Micah finally understand
how Gideon’s past made him feel?

Gideon continued. “We will find Ellie. We will. We just need to do it as safely as
possible. Understand?”

Micah and Amos nodded.

“Now gather up. It’ll only take a few minutes and we’ll get this figured out, but
first…” Gideon looked back over his shoulder. His eyes met Lydia’s through the open
window. “But first,” he continued, “we’re going to pray.”

Gideon scanned the crowd of those gathered. To his left Mrs. Sommer’s hands covered
her face. The shaking of her shoulders told him she was trying her hardest to hold
in the wails. Annie stood beside her, as did a few of the other women from the community—Amish
and
Englisch
alike.

The Amish around Gideon lowered their heads. All his life he’d only known silent prayer,
but as he stood there, the words couldn’t be contained.

“Dear Lord!” Gideon prayed out loud. Even though his eyes were closed he felt the
other bachelors standing beside him shuffle uncomfortably. “I don’t know how to pray.
I’m not sure what words to use,
gut
God. But I do know that You know where Ellie is. Please, Lord, keep her safe. And
keep all of us safe.” A low moan escaped him. “And thank You for saving me. Amen.”

Somber faces focused on Gideon. Men shuffled from side to side, and he knew they were
eager to get started. A truck pulled up, parked, and two men jumped out—Abe Sommer,
Ellie’s father, and Ben Stone, Marianna’s husband.

“Has anyone found her yet?” The words rushed from Abe’s mouth.

“
Ne
.” Ruth shook her head. “We’re getting organized now.” She looked to Gideon.

“We need someone to check yer house. She might have gone home,” Annie commented.

“We stopped,” Ben said. “We didn’t see her.”

Gideon nodded. “Take the older boys and check again. Have them look in every spot
Ellie uses in her play. And a few of you…” He pointed to the bachelors. “Check the
woods just to the side of the roads on the path from the school to Ellie’s home. She’s
only six. You’d think she’d walk the way she’d be more familiar with.”

Edgar walked into the schoolyard. He still had on his cashier’s apron from the store.
Dave Carash pulled in next, parking his car, and the two men approached the school
together.

“The rest of you men—I’d like us to circle around Edgar and Dave. These two know this
place better than anyone. I’d like them to tell us how to split up and let us know
how to check in. Edgar, you don’t mind, do you?”

Edgar’s shoulders straightened and a slight smile brightened his face. “Gideon’s right.
I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t.” He looked to Dave. “We’re going to break up
the search into four quadrants—consider the crossroad here as the boundary. We’ll
do a one-mile sweep while we’re waiting for Search and Rescue, calling her name, and
looking for any sign of a little girl. Then we’re going to meet back here in thirty
minutes.” Edgar glanced back at Gideon, then pointed a finger at all the men one by
one. “If yer not familiar with an area, do not go into it, do you hear? We don’t want
anyone else in danger. No loss of life today, gentlemen. No loss of life.”